Manifolding device



Oct. 8, 1929. w. E. OLIVER W 1,730,524

HANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1921 est:

Patented Get. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER E. OLIVER, F WOODCLIFF, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOGRAPIIIC REGIS- TER CO., 0F HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MANIFOLDING DEVICE Application filed February 8, 1921. Serial No. 443,371.

rlhis invention relates to strip-feeding mechanism in general, but has specific reference to such mechanism which is adapted for feeding a plurality of superposed strips of flexible material, said strips being withdrawn from rolls, and one or more of the strips being rewound into a roll for subsequent use.

I have selected an autographic register as an illustration of the commercial use of my invention, since it is one of the best-known forms of manifolding devices, and it is common practice in using such registers to employ a plurality of superposed strips of paper, l5 with carbon-paper strips interposed therebetween; to withdraw the paper strips from rolls rotatably mounted in the frame of the register; and rewind one of said strips upon a spindle located within the frame of the register, to be removed whenever desired, and kept as a permanent record of the transactions originally entered upon the uppermost of the paper strips and reproduced autographically upon the underlying strips.

In rewinding the record strip, it is manifestly desirable that it shall be wound tightly, so that the record roll shall be no larger than necessary, and shall be firm, rather than loose and yielding; also that the ends of the roll shall form a substantially plane surface, in-

stead of being irregular. Then, too, the

mechanism for rewinding the record roll should be such as not to interfere with the desired registry of the record strip with` the other strips,-or, in other. words, should not aiiect in any way the advancement of the record strip by the main strip-advancing mechanism. Heretofore, in what is known to the trade as the recorder type of auto- O graphic register, the rewinding of one or more of the paper strips to form a record roll or rolls has resulted in the productionl of a roll or rolls that was or were loosely wound, and

a irregular in shape, and consequently poorly 4b adapted for storage purposes, and the mechanism for rewinding the record strip or strips has affected their advancement by the main strip-feeding mechanism.

The principal object of my present'inven- 5@ tion is to improve upon the record-strip winding mechanism known heretofore by providing such mechanism which shall not be subject to the foregoing objections; which shall be adapted to produce a record roll that is tightly wound, and is symmetrical in shape; and that shall in no wisey affect movement of the record strip or strips by the main stripadvancing mechanism, or of itself cause movement of the record strip or strips. Other objects are to provide record-strip advancing mechanism that is adapted to wind a strip or strips upon a suitable spindle or spindles, or the like, at a rate dependent upon the rate at which the strip ory strips is or are advanced by the main strip-advancing mechanism, such record-strip winding mechanism being simple, inexpensive, unlikely to get out of order, eiicient, readily acessible for repairs and replacements, and requiring a minimum of manual attendance.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention, and the means employed and the manner of utilizing them for the accomplishment of said objects, will readily be understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an autographic register' having my improved record-strip winding mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view, taken substantially Online 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. t is a detail view, in sectional elevation, taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the frame of the register comprises two side members 5 and 6, which may be held together in any suitable manner, and which support a writing-bed or platen 7, and its overlying cover or marginframe 8. Said margin-frame is so shaped at its forward endas to form a hood 9 adapted to cover and protect the main strip-feeding mechanism, and terminates in a tearing-blade 10 by means of which the paper strips may be detached manually after being written upon, an opening 11 in said margin-frame serving to define the portions of the paper strips intended to receive inscriptions. For purposes of illustration, three paperstrips, 12, 13 and 14, are shown, although it is manifest that a greater or less number may be employed if desired, and each of said strips has a series of similar forms 15 inscribed thereupon, said forms being intended to be filled in with written matter while in place over the writing-bed of the register. Near the head of each of said forms, two holes 16 are initially punched or otherwise formed in said strips, said two holes preferably being located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the form, and to some predetermined portion thereof. The size and location of the said holes, their shape,` and the number employed for each form, are susceptible of Wide variations, according with such changes as may be thought desirable in the details of the strip-feeding mechanism. The writing-pad 7 is extended at one side of the register, and said extension is so shaped as to form a receptacle 17 for a roll 18, which is rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and comprises two superposed strips 19 and 20V of carbon paper, strip 19 being interposed between paper strips 12 and 13, and carbon-paper strip 20 being similarly interposed between paper strips 13 and 14, in the usual manner.

The strip-feeding mechanism in the form of my invention illustrated herein is of the type shown in Patent No. 1,396,070, granted November 8th, 1921, in which a plurality of superposed strips of paper, having strips of manifolding interposed therebetween, are advanced over a writing bed by means which upon engaging apertures in the strips renders the advancing means inoperative to continue the advancement. Accordingly, in the register shown herein, there is provided a pair of annuli A mounted on a feed shaft B and cooperating with a pressure roller C to grip and feed paper strips 12, 13 and 14 when an operating handle 41 is rotated. The advancement of the strips continues during rotation of the handle 41 until a pair of perforations 16 provided in each strip at the head of each form thereon reaches the annuli with which they are in longitudinal alignment, and which enter the apertures. Then, there being no feeding contact between the strips, whose apertures are entered by` the annuli, and the annuli further advancement of that strip ceases and the strip has been fed one form length. Should the form lengths of the different strips vary, the strip with the shortest form lengths will stop first and the other or others of greater form lengths will continue to advance until they too have the annuli located in the apertures. Thus, the record strip 14 may have shorter form lengths than the other strips 12 and 13, and this is desirable, for it is usually not necessary to have all the data on the record-strip forms which is required on the strips to be issued.

To cause the strips to again advance after having been written upon, there is provided a starting roller D on the feed shaft out of line with the perforations and cooperating with the upper or pressure roller C. rThis starting roller is driven by the feed shaft whenthe latter is turned, through a friction drive connection of which the spring E forms a part, and is permitted to rotate or prevented therefrom bya stop pawl F controlled by a shaft G, having at its outer end a linger-piece H. By depressing the finger-piece H and 0perating the crank, all the strips are fed until the individual strips again stop upon the apertures reaching the annuli A, the starting roller being rendered inoperative by the stop pawl F before any of the apertures reach the annuli.

For a more detailed explanation of the feeding mechanism, see Patent No. 1,396,070.

The three strips of paper, 12, 13 and 14, are led from therolls from which they are withdrawn, toward the rear end ofthe register and over guide rollers by which they are directed into place upon the writing-bed, the uppermost strip 12 passing over roller 21, and the second strip passing over roller 22, and the lowermost or record strip 14 passing over roller 23. One end of each of two similar flat springs 24 embraces a reduced portion of guide roller 22, the outer surfaces of said springs being flush with that of said roller, said springs being pivotally movable upon said roller, and the free ends of said springs being adapted to rest over similar collars 25 mounted upon guide roller 23, said collars being secured to said roller, so that their rotation causes rotation of the roller. At one end of roller 23 a spur gear 26 is secured thereupon, said gear meshing with an idle gear 27, which in turn meshes with a spur gear 28 secured upon a stud 29 journalled in side member 6 of the register frame and in a housing 30 secured to said side member. Upon stud 29 is secured a sprocket wheel 31 which drives a sprocket chain 32 in operative engagement with a sprocket Wheel 33 secured upon a stud 34 journalled in side member 6 of the register frame and in thel forward end of housing 30. Stud 34 has secured thereupon a collar 35 in frictional engagement with a collar 36 vhaving a notch 37 therein, said notch being adapted to receive a shoulder 38 on a shaft 39 upon which is secured a core 40, preferably of wood, for the winding of the record strip 14 thereupon. The other end of shaft 39 is journalle-d in side member 5 of the register frame. A hand crank 41 serves for manual operation of the main stripadvancing mechanism, and, incidental thereto, of the record-roll core 40 upon which the record strip 14 is wound in the manner hereinafter explained.

In the operation of the record-.strip winding mechanism disclosed herein, the record strip 14 is pressed by the hat springs 24 against the collars 25 secure-d upon guide roller 23, the extent of said pressure being dependent partly upon the degree of tautness of the paper strips 12 and 13 overlying strip 14, and partly upon the pressure exerted upon springs 24 by the margin-frame 8. When the paper strips areadvanced by the main strip-advancing mechanism, due to the turning of hand crank 41, the advancement of the record strip 14 causes guide roller 23 to be revolved in its bearings, thereby revolving sprocket wheel 28, and thus, through the medium of sprocket chain 32 revolving sprocket wheel 33. Due to the frictional engagement of collar 35, which is secured to sprocket wheel 33, with the collar 36 having the notch 37 therein, record-roll core 40 is caused to revolve by revolution of sprocket wheel 33, in a direction such as to wind record strip 14 upon said core to form a record roll. The yielding frictional engagement of collar with collar 36 permits sufficient slip therebetween so that the core 40 is revolved only sufficiently to take up the slack in record strip 14 between the main strip-advancing mechanism and the record-roll core, and when record strip 14 is not being advanced by the main strip-advancing mechanism there is manifestly no turning of the record-roll core. Thus, instead of the record-roll core being connected directly with the main stripadvancing mechanism by a frictional drive, as has been the practice heretofore, revolution of said core is dependent solely upon advancement of the record strip 14 by the main stripadvancing mechanism, and when, upon engagement of the annuli A of the main strip-advancing mechanism with the holes 16 in the paper strips, advancement of said strips terminates automatically, revolution of record-roll core 4() likewise terminates, regardless of further turning of hand crank 41 and consequent actuation of the main stripadvancing mechanism. Hence it will be seen that, when a record strip having shortforms is used, the rewind of the record strip ceases upon cessation of movement of the record strip and the other strips having longer form lengths may continue to be advanced without in any way effecting the record strip or its rewind.

The degree of tightness of the record roll is manifestly dependent upon the amount of frictional engagement between collar 35 and collar 36, and I have found in practice that, without any interference whatever with the operation of the main strip-advancing mechanism, the record strip may be rewound by my improved mechanism approximately as tightly, and as symmetrically, as it was originally wound to form the roll from which it was withdrawn. The sprocket wheels and sprocket chain, being enclosed in the housing 30 located below the receptacle 17 for the carbon-paper strips, do not affect the sightliness of the register, and are protected against accidental interference by the operator.

Various modifications of minor details of the record-strip winding mechanism disclosed herein will doubtless occur to those skilled in this art, or to others, in view of this speciication and the accompanying drawings, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described. I claim as my invention, and seek to protect byLetters Patent the following 1. In an autographic register in combination, a frame for supporting a writing-bed with a margin-frame thereover; means for advancing a plurality of superposed strips of paper over said writing-bed, said strips having` manifolding material between them; a plurality of guide rollers at the opposite end of the table by means of which each of said strips is directed into position over said writing-bed; means mounted upon one ofsaid guide rollers for pressing one of said strips into engagement with another of said guide rollers; a core upon which the strip so pressed is wound after being written upon; and frictional power-transmission means connecting the core with that one of said guide rollers with which a strip is pressed into engagement, whereby advancement of the strip causes rotation of the guide roller on which said strip is pressed, and through the frictional power transmission means rotation of the core to wind upon it said strip. 2. In a manifolding device, in combination, a writing bed; means for advancing a plurality of superposed fabric strips thereover; a guide roller for each of said strips; a pair of collars on one only of saidv guide rollers; a pair of strips carried bya second of said guide rollers for pressing the adjacent fabric strip against said collars; a spindle upon which said fabric stri` is wound; andmeans operated from the rol er carrying the collars for rot-ating the spindle as the fabric strips are advanced over the writing bed. 3. In a manifolding device, in combination, a writing bed; means for advancing a plurality of superposed fabric strips thereover; a guide roller for each of said strips; a pair of arms on oneguide roller for pressing the adjacent fabric strip onto the guide roller beneath it; a spindle upon which the lowermost fabric strip is wound; and means operated only from the roller guiding the lowermost fabric strip for rotating the spindle as the fabric strips are advanced over the writing bed.

4. In a manifolding device, in combination,

that for the lowermost strip for pressing the adjacent fabric strip onto the next roller; a spindle upon which the lowermost fabric IOO j strip is Wound; and means operated only from the roller guiding the lovvermost fabric strip for rotating the spindle as the fabric strips are advanced over the Writing bed. 5 5. In a manifolding machine, the combi- 'nation of a frame for supporting a Writing bed over Which a plurality of strips is advanced, one of said strips being a recordstrip; feeding means common to all of said strips for advancing said strips each a predetermined extent or form length; and means operated solely by the record-strip in its advancing movement for revvinding the record-strip to preserve it in the machine.

6. In a manifolding machine, the combination of a frame for supporting a Writing bed over Which a plurality of strips is advanced, one of said strips being a record-strip; feeding means for advancing said strips each a predetermined extent or form length and comprising means which upon entering an aperture in a strip renders the feeding means inoperative to continue the feeding of that strip, whereby the feeding means is free of the strips for movement independently thereof after said strips have each been advanced its form length; and means deriving its power from the feeding means solely While the feeding means is advancing the 3o record-strip for rewinding the record-strip to preserve it in the machine.

7. In a manifolding machine, the combination of a frame for supporting a Writing bed over Which a plurality of strips is advanced,

one of said strips being a record-strip; feeding means common to all of said strips for advancing said strips each a predetermined extent or form length; a record-strip Storage compartment; and means operated solely by the recordstrip in its advancing movement for controlling the storing of the recordstrip in the record-strip storage compartment.

8. In strip-feeding mechanism1 the combination, With means for advancing a plurality of superposed strips over a Writing bed; of a member rotated solely by advancement to the Writing bed of the one of said strips Which constitutes a record-strip; a record-strip storage compartment; and means located `in said record-strip storage compartment and actuated by said member for controlling the storing of the record-strip in the said compartment.

9. In a manifolding machine, the combina tion of a frame for supporting a Writing bed over which a plurality of strips is advanced, one of said strips being a record-strip; feeding means common to all of said strips for advancing said strips each a predetermined extent or form length; record-stripengaging means in advance of saidfeeding means for controlling the storing of the record-strip in the machine; and means oper- 65 ated solely by said record-strip in its advanc WALTER E. OLIVER. 

